Coos resident ruled ineligible to serve on NHGOP for backing Democrat

New Hampshire Republican Chair Wayne MacDonald ruled that a longtime GOP activist in the North Country is ineligible to serve on the state committee because he backed a Democrat this fall, something not allowed under party bylaws.

The decision could have a small impact on the contested race for state party chair in late January.

At Saturday's Coos County Republican caucus, County Commissioner Tom Brady, of Jefferson, was elected with others to represent the county on the 500-member state committee. Those members would meet at the state party's annual meeting in Bedford on Jan. 26 to elect party officers. The most high-profile of those elections will be for state Republican Party chair, a contest between the establishment-backed Jennifer Horn and the grassroots upstart Andrew Hemingway.

Soon after the Coos caucuses meeting ended, Hemingway supporters pointed out that Brady might be ineligible to serve on the committee because he backed Democrat Jeff Woodburn for state Senate over Republican Debi Warner.

Following the 2010 elections, which saw a committee called "Republicans for Lynch" form to back the re-election of Democratic Gov. John Lynch, Republicans passed a new rule saying that any Republican who openly backs a Democrat over a another Republican cannot serve on the state committee.

Evidence that Brady violated this rule, some suggested, was right on Woodburn's Facebook page, where the Democrat talked about how "former foes unite" and plugged the Berlin Daily Sun newspaper for breaking the news that Brady was backing Woodburn.

Coos County Republicans asked MacDonald's opinion so they could deal with the consequences before the state meeting. On Wednesday, the NHGOP sent an email to Coos County Republicans saying that Brady was ineligible.

The NHGOP email, which was obtained by WMUR, said, "As requested, Tom Brady is ineligible to be on the State Committee due to the fact he publicly endorsed the Democratic State Senate candidate in this years cycle." The email then referenced party bylaws.

When contacted Wednesday afternoon, Brady said he hadn't heard from the state committee on his status. He could challenge the ruling at the annual meeting, but he wasn't sure whether he would do that or whether he would even show up. He said that when his name was placed into nomination on Saturday he didn't know about this particular party bylaw.

Either way, Coos Republicans will have to elect an alternate delegate. They are expected to do that at their meeting next month.

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